Warning: Contains spoilers for Poison War #2!There really is no such symbiote Massacre. The most psychotic villain Marvel has ever seen has reconnected with his beloved host, and not only that, but he's getting a promotion. Being the King in Black means something different to everyone, but for Carnage means being the King of Hell.
King Carnage was recently seen wreaking havoc Death of the Venomverse, but he went back to hedging his bets and making deals The poison war #2 By Al Ewing, Iban Coello and Frank D'Armata. Cletus Cassidy shows off his new look as the lead in a smart red suit, but it's only when he transforms into Carnage that things really turn into hell.
Staying true to his character, Carnage retains his old King in Black look – he's no longer just a psychotic killer symbiote. He has fully evolved into a Symbiote Devil and is hungry for Eddie Brock's soul.
Carnage Marvel's New Symbiote is Satan
Carnage has arrived for the souls of the Marvel Universe
As Carnage reconnects with his beloved host, bloodshed is surely on the way. Cletus Kasady and Carnage complement each other in a sick way that Eddie Brock and Venom never could, but take things to the next level. Instead of just cutting for fun, it seems the symbiote is taking a smarter route this time around. Just like when the Devil knew that he could not enter Heaven alone, he decided to go there by another way – by cheating and cutting deals.
Carnage is now working with Meridius, trying to make a deal for himself like any classic demonic figure. It's a far cry from the psychopathic Slaughter who shoots first and asks questions later. In this new mode, Carnage as the diabolical King in Black completes two different mythological ideas of the devil: first, that image of the omnivorous monster of the pit as he transforms into wolf form; and second, from the Devil at the Crossroads, when he presents himself as a man in a suit ready to shake hands over a bargain and a soul, he becomes Marvel's newest Satan figure.
Mephisto was the Original Blueprint for Marvel's Devil
Carnage is Better than Devil Mephisto Dreamed
When you think of Marvel's Satan figure, Mephisto is the one that comes to mind the most. It was created as a tribute to German folklore of the demon Mephistopheles of the famous Faust legend. The gist of the story is that Mephistopheles is a demon who can grant fantastic powers and immortality and almost any wish – for a price, that is. This carried over into other folktales, such as the story of the Devil at the American Crossroads, where the soul is traded for something special.
Mephisto is the original Marvel blueprint for such an archetype. Often making deals for souls or even erasing something like Mephisto's deal with Spider-Man, he plays the role of a diabolical trickster who likes to play people for power. But Carnage defeated him. Carnage moves through the world with ease, bound by no laws of Hell, and has more forms than Mephisto: his human form of the Devil to shake hands, and the demonic form of the King of Carnage in Black Night. This latter form is more terrifying than Mephisto and has caused more bloodshed than the Prince of Hell could ever imagine.
Cletus Kasady shows off his latest Lucifer look
Carnage spins the Devil at the Crossroads Trope
Carnage changed more than how the symbiotes attached to their hosts, he showed a complete evolution as he took on this new trickster role. It's not just about the bloodshed now, it's about the bigger picture. This Carnage is a tactic that aims to move chess pieces around the board to capture the king on the other side. Because the stakes are higher now: it's not just blood, it's after souls.
The Devil is not just a force of destruction, but a force of cunning ambition, and Carnage shows just how bloody ambitious he is.
The poison war.
While Carnage was terrifying on his own as a mindless monster designed only for slaughter, this newer and smarter version certainly strikes a fear chord. The Devil is not just a force of destruction, but a force of cunning ambition, and Carnage shows just how bloody ambitious he is. The poison war. However, when that doesn't work, there's always the option of bloodshed, it seems.
Will Spider-Man make another deal with the devil?
First king of black, now king of hell – how far will the carnage go?
As Spider-Man continues to get better, Carnage continues to get worse. Carnage is the latest and greatest iteration of the Devil archetype that would make even Mephisto jealous, and it looks like Spider-Man's history with Marvel's Devil isn't over yet. To win this war Peter Parker may have to turn to the King in Black to save Marvel.
Regardless of the outcome, Spider-Man has already crossed into dark territory by reclaiming his iconic black suit. The deal may already be a done deal, but in the meantime, Carnage's eyes are elsewhere. Bloodshed is inevitable and Eddie Brock's soul is at stake. The devil is coming for his due and will be Massacre when he doesn't get what he wants.
The poison war #2 available now from Marvel Comics!
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Poison
Venom is a symbiotic alien entity associated with various human hosts, notably Eddie Brock and later Flash Thompson. It grants superhuman strength, agility, and a shape-shifting black suit. Originally a Spider-Man villain by origin, Venom evolved into an antihero, battling both villains and his own dark impulses. The character embodies the themes of duality and redemption in the Marvel Universe.